The UK government has announced plans to abolish NHS England, aiming to cut bureaucracy and bring healthcare directly under ministerial control.
The move has sparked mixed reactions, with some welcoming reform and others raising concerns about centralisation.
Meanwhile, cuts to US global health aid are being felt in HIV/AIDS programmes, particularly in Africa, where limited funding is threatening access to treatment.
Public health officials are responding to a growing measles outbreak across multiple US states, including Texas, Ohio, and California. Experts have linked the surge in cases to declining vaccination rates and persistent misinformation.
AI is now delivering real-world impact. Chelsea & Westminster Hospital is trialling an app that diagnoses skin cancer in seconds from smartphone images. Philips and Ibex have expanded their AI pathology partnership, and Oxford researchers are using AI tools to speed up Alzheimer’s drug development.
Microsoft’s Dragon Copilot, an AI-powered assistant for clinicians, is designed to reduce admin overload, while Cera Care is piloting in-home robots to support elderly patients with daily care tasks.
AstraZeneca is investing $2.5bn in Beijing to drive early-stage drug development and AI-led trials. But in the UK, pharma leaders warn new pricing schemes risk making the country unattractive for innovation.
Across Europe, medtech firms are also sounding the alarm over growing regulatory pressure under MDR and IVDR rules, calling for reform to avoid innovation bottlenecks.
The UKHSA has identified 24 pathogens, including Ebola and Dengue, that need urgent research focus. In Yorkshire, England, bird flu was detected in sheep for the first time, raising concerns about cross-species transmission.
And finally, other notable developments include a new injectable contraceptive, faster DNA sequencing for infection control, and a rise in euthanasia cases in the Netherlands.
BBC: NHS England to be axed.
NHS England will be abolished and brought under "democratic control" in an attempt to cut bureaucracy and duplication. Read here.
Healthcare Dive: Microsoft reveals AI clinical assistant.
Dragon Copilot has been revealed as all-in-one tool for clinicians drowning under administrative work. Read here.
GOV.UK: Pathogens threaten public health.
The UKHSA has revealed the pathogen families that threaten public health. Contingency plans are being prepared. Read here.
Bloomberg: Trump's cuts impact HIV treatments.
Trump’s foreign aid retreat now threatens the safety of millions of patients relying on US-funded HIV treatments. Read here.
The Guardian: Cases of measles rising in the US.
US states continue to report measles cases as the Texas outbreak expands. Vaccine misinformation remains a hurdle. Read here.
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